This painting is 18" x 22." Created for the GlubDub Siamese Twins Project. I started the piece by researching Siamese Twins, starting with Chang and Eng Bunker (1811–1874), Thai brothers born in Siam, now Thailand. From there, I looked at Thailand as a source of inspiration for the patterns and the main figure. Since I collect Buddhas, I wanted to make my interpretation of this famous and intriguing figure. My "Buddha" was created using many of the characteristics of the Thai Buddha, according to the ancient Pali texts: hands like lotuses about to bloom, fingertips turned back like petals, head like an egg, chin like a mango stone, nose like a parrot's beak, earlobes lengthened by the earrings of royalty, eyelashes like a cow's, eyebrows like drawn bows. The legs are referring to Josephene Myrtle Corbin, aka The Four-Legged Woman. The "Siamese" or two-headed flower is a form I have been playing with in numerous paintings because I like the duality symbolism.

Using the sketch to transfer to the canvas. This is a new technique for me.

The drawing with the red trace lines. Between the drawing and the canvas is a sheet of transfer paper.

Blocking in the flowers and Buddha. My plan is to eventually cover the Buddha in gold, the green is just a base layer. Quick glaze on the rocks in the jar and the background.

Using three different blue/purples to block in the tiles. I like to leave the color a little rough to let the yellow peek through.

Added seed details to the blossoms in the tiles.

Detailing double stems and leaves in blossoms (right side).

Cleaning up edges and creating a groove between the tiles.

Adding pebble texture to tiles (right side).

Starting to detail rocks inside the vivarium using several browns, including my fav, Acra Gold.

Adding color to the flowers. Yikes...too much sharpen filter.

More color to the flowers. Silver and silver glitter to the background pebbles.

Detail of glitter.

Building up values on main figure.

View of studio set-up. I have been using my original drawing for placement, and reference photo for values.

Building up gold tones on figure.

Adding some details to the eyes, and shadows to the form. I will go back and forth adding lights and darks to build up the color.

Adding some highlights to the jar to separate it from the flowers. Starting to work on boots.

Added glaze of Turquois (Phthalo) to the upper background to help the flowers pop.

Adding details to background glaze to bring back some of the shapes in the tiles. Added wing pattern to main figure. Haven't decided how I will treat the pattern on the main figure yet. Maybe leave as line work, but add high lights to make it look like grooves in his skin? Still have a ways to go, but good progress so far.